Fordham (MSG), Sat., Dec. 16, 3:30p, FS1

Silly Donovan said:
I really don’t think you can bring the history of the last 20 years in discussion here. This a new coach (a HOF coach), an overhauled roster, NIL money involved , higher rated players/recruits etc. I stand by my statement that Fordham should not be a handfull for St. John’s. The last time Fordham should have been a handfull for the Johnnies was decades ago. And now add in this last poor loss and the motivation and talent level should be there for a convincing victory.

If as coach Pitino has emphatically stated that “St.. John’s will be back, and it’s going to happen fast”, this game should be a solid win. In recent memory, would you ever have considered a Fordham game to be a struggle, even with some of our recent less qualified staff?
Click to expand...
Yes. This game has never been a gimme. Local games like Fordham and Hofstra (and Niagara, but I digress) are never a gimme.

I do think we’re gonna win though. For the record.
 
Wonder what the crowd size will be for our game. Why is it a 3:30 start time when the first game is at noon ? I Gotta believe some of the first game crowd will leave after their game
 
lawmanfan said:
Paultz, respectfully perhaps Pitino should do something more than "clamor" for better defense. It has been evident in multiple games this season that he is willing to keep trying to pound square pegs into round holes. Maybe they will eventually turn into round pegs, but if I were him I would give at least some consideration to, I dunno, doing something different. If the players you brought in can't defend in the system you want to play, maybe you have to be at least somewhat flexible if you want to win games.

The fact that he flat out quit on the BC game with 2 minutes to go when it was still possible to make a run was not an encouraging sign.

I understand that he has a roster (that he put together) that has some deficiencies (no shade, he did well to get what he got), but you gotta work with the team you have, not the team you wish you had.

Fordham is scrappy, as is Hofstra. There are no more games on the schedule that can be taken for granted. The players have to kick in - but so does the coach.
Click to expand...
Very fair LMF
 
Rocket said:
Pitino's teams don't play zone. He doesn't coach zone defense. How could they switch to a defense they don't practice?
Click to expand...
Pitino employs a matchup zone. They practice the standard 2-3 and more complex man-to-man principles. If you look closely, they aren't chasing guys around the floor often. They switch and pass off. That's really difficult and that's what takes his teams so long to nail down. It's an absolute nightmare for the freshmen.

In the past he's gone to more of a standard 2-3 with teams really struggling to get down the basics. He might have to do something like that here. Soriano can't be drawn out so far from the basket this often. Our guards also lack quickness. The only newcomer that can switch well is Alleyne. As good as he is on defense, it's asking a lot of him to guard the opposing PG.

This team lacks quickness across the board. Pitino might have to abandon the pace of play he wants just for this year. We're just not going to pressure good teams often this year unless some of the more athletic younger guys really get it together.
 
In the past this game would have been a layup! Now with all of the roster changes and a Fordham team beating a common opponent in North Texas I except to see a hard-fought close game! I agree on starting Alleyne over Dingle! He has been the one consistent outside shooter on the team, and we know he can play at the Big East Level!
 
lawmanfan said:
Paultz, respectfully perhaps Pitino should do something more than "clamor" for better defense. It has been evident in multiple games this season that he is willing to keep trying to pound square pegs into round holes. Maybe they will eventually turn into round pegs, but if I were him I would give at least some consideration to, I dunno, doing something different. If the players you brought in can't defend in the system you want to play, maybe you have to be at least somewhat flexible if you want to win games.

The fact that he flat out quit on the BC game with 2 minutes to go when it was still possible to make a run was not an encouraging sign.

I understand that he has a roster (that he put together) that has some deficiencies (no shade, he did well to get what he got), but you gotta work with the team you have, not the team you wish you had.

Fordham is scrappy, as is Hofstra. There are no more games on the schedule that can be taken for granted. The players have to kick in - but so does the coach.
Click to expand...
This is brilliant. Pitino has to…do something different! McKinsey could not have said it better!
 
Rocket said:
Pitino's teams don't play zone. He doesn't coach zone defense. How could they switch to a defense they don't practice?
Click to expand...
Golly gee, how come the rest of us didn’t think of that! Pitino does not use zones. He has spent months trying to teach these guys man defense. But in second half of BC game, he should have told the team—- let’s go zone! More brilliant input from the board! This stuff is hilarious.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top